Chapter 162: Ashiya Dōman's Student
[The Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department will open recruitment registration at the Onmyō Academy beginning today. Eligible students are encouraged to participate.]
[Location: Onmyō Academy Training Hall]
The announcement struck the normally dull classroom like an explosive talisman.
For a moment, the students stared at it in disbelief.
Then deafening cheers erupted throughout the room.
Far too many students at the Onmyō Academy had been waiting for the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department to begin recruiting. Every day of uncertainty had felt painfully long.
Now, the opportunity they had been hoping for had finally arrived.
"I wonder whether we'll get to see that lord in person."
"Probably not. Recruitment at the Onmyō Academy is a small matter to someone like him. They'll likely send a section chief or another senior officer from the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department."
"That isn't certain. The Kyoto Incident only just ended, and graduation season is approaching. Maybe that lord decided to stop by while returning from Kyoto."
"That's possible."
"Mm..."
The students had completely lost interest in the lesson.
Excited discussions broke out across the classroom, and even the instructors paid close attention to the sudden announcement.
After all, the Academy Head had not informed them in advance that the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department would be coming to recruit.
However, the excitement lasted only until the recruitment requirements were released.
[Minimum requirement: Quasi-Professional Level]
[Priority consideration: Professional Level]
The announcement was like a bucket of cold water poured over the students' heads.
Many teachers shook their heads after reading it.
There were very few students capable of reaching the Quasi-Professional Level while still studying at the Onmyō Academy. Professional Level students were rarer still.
In previous years, even the Onmyo Bureau and the Onmyo Alliance had not set standards this high.
Students who reached such levels were usually offered direct recommendations to those organizations. Yet for the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department, that level of ability only granted the right to register.
Although the requirements dampened the students' enthusiasm, most understood the reason.
The Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department was no longer an obscure private organization.
Its status had changed entirely.
Strict recruitment standards were only natural.
"Damn it. I'm still quite far from the Quasi-Professional Level. It looks like this opportunity has nothing to do with me."
"Only descendants of established Onmyoji families can reach that standard while still in school. This is unfair. The Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department isn't giving ordinary students any chance at all."
"Exactly. We're still students, and our paths have only just begun. One requirement is enough to shut us out completely."
A few students began complaining.
Their bitter words quickly attracted contempt from those around them.
"Unfair? Favouritism? That's ridiculous."
"The Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department is recruiting personnel, not performing charity. Are you going to complain about fairness when facing Yokai too? Why not ask them why they chose to revive in our era?"
"What right do you have to accuse that lord of favouritism?"
"Instead of reflecting on your own shortcomings, you blame the standards for being too high. That's nothing but selfishness."
"And what is all this talk about potential? Does the department have to invest in every person who claims they might become strong someday?"
"Turn that potential into real strength first. Until then, you're only embarrassing yourselves."
The complaints were soon drowned beneath mockery and disdain.
While arguments continued inside various classrooms, many students had already left for the Onmyō Academy Training Hall, where the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department's recruitment would take place.
Some were well-known geniuses, the academy's recognised elite.
Many others were students who had always kept a low profile and rarely distinguished themselves during ordinary lessons.
Inside the training hall, Kurahashi Kyoko stared at the gathered crowd in surprise.
"There are this many?"
Her long golden hair fell behind her shoulders, framing her sweet, attractive face. With her purple eyes and tall, elegant figure, she stood out even among the many talented students present.
A quick count showed that more than a hundred people had already gathered.
As the granddaughter of Academy Head Kurahashi Miyoshi and the daughter of Onmyo Bureau Chief Kurahashi Genji, Kyoko was one of the most prominent students in the academy.
Even she had not expected so many students to have reached the Quasi-Professional or Professional Level.
This was the Onmyō Academy, a place meant to cultivate the future seeds of Onmyōdō.
It was not the Onmyo Bureau or the Onmyo Alliance.
"It isn't that strange."
Tsuchimikado Natsume stood beside her.
"There are many students here who deliberately keep a low profile. Most of them only reveal their true ability after joining other Onmyōdō organizations."
She gestured toward a delicate-looking boy standing not far away.
"Take Momoe Tenma. He barely attracts any attention in our class, yet he has already reached the Quasi-Professional Level."
"Tenma?"
Kyoko looked over in surprise.
"Not only did I not know, I doubt even Grandmother expected it."
She thought for a moment, then nodded.
"You may be right, Natsume."
Kyoko knew several seniors currently serving in the Onmyo Bureau who had been almost invisible during their years at the academy.
They had devoted themselves entirely to practising Onmyōdō.
Now, some had already become candidates for the Twelve Divine Generals.
"Mr. Gin..."
Natsume's thoughts drifted.
Excitement and confusion mingled in her heart.
She was happy that Gin still remembered the promise he had made to her.
Yet even now, she could not understand when the young man she knew as Gin Tsumugi had become the legendary Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei, founder and ancestor of the entire Tsuchimikado Clan.
Not far from Natsume and Kyoko, another girl was silently considering her own future.
"Joining the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department may be the best choice."
Sōma Takiriko lowered her eyes.
"Perhaps I can borrow that lord's power to truly resolve my sister's problem."
After escaping from Tamamo-no-Mae at the Imperial Palace, Takiriko had remained hidden within the Onmyō Academy.
Though "hidden" was not entirely accurate.
She was still registered as a student here, although until recently her enrolment had existed mostly in name.
She did not dare return to the Onmyo Bureau.
Her disguise had almost certainly been exposed by that lord.
Takiriko's original collaborator had been Tsuchimikado Harutora, the reincarnation of Tsuchimikado Yakou.
Unfortunately, Harutora could barely protect himself while suffering erosion from the Ghost Gods of the Underworld. In his current condition, there was no possibility of him rescuing her sister, Haruka Shizumiya.
"The agreement my sister made with Tamamo-no-Mae is only a temporary solution."
Takiriko sighed.
"When Tamamo-no-Mae no longer has anything to fear, my sister may still be devoured."
Through her conversations with Haruka, Takiriko had learned why a top Great Yokai like Tamamo-no-Mae had been willing to compromise.
It was because of her fear of Abe no Seimei.
Whenever Takiriko thought about it, she felt a chill.
That lord had already reincarnated, yet his strength had not fully recovered.
Even so, the deterrence his name exerted over Yokai, and even over top Great Yokai like Tamamo-no-Mae, had not diminished after a thousand years.
The mere confirmation of his return had forced Tamamo-no-Mae to retreat substantially in the matter concerning Haruka Shizumiya.
Even now, it felt unbelievable.
More unbelievable still was that White Fox Gin Tsumugi, whom Takiriko had often encountered at the Onmyo Bureau, had been that legendary figure all along.
It felt like a dream.
What Takiriko wanted now was to remove her sister's hidden danger completely.
As time passed, Kasugano Sora entered the training hall as the representative in charge of recruitment for the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department.
She stood before the students who had reached the required level.
"Good afternoon."
Her pale face remained composed beneath the attention of more than a hundred people.
"I am Kasugano Sora of the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department, and I serve as the shikigami of our Director, White Fox Gin Tsumugi."
"I will be overseeing recruitment at the Onmyō Academy."
The students were visibly startled.
They had not expected this ghost girl to be Gin Tsumugi's shikigami.
When they thought of the shikigami serving that lord, the first figures that came to mind were the legendary Twelve Divine Generals, followed by Zenki and Goki.
For this seemingly delicate ghost girl to have become one of his shikigami, her fortune was extraordinary.
As Gin's status continued to rise, she might one day become a divine existence comparable to the Twelve Divine Generals themselves.
Under Sora's direction, the students began registering their information in an orderly manner.
There were only a little over a hundred candidates, so she could handle the process alone without asking the academy's teachers for assistance.
"Maenaka Ryota. Quasi-Professional Level. Specialities: spirit talismans and shikigami. Class instructor: Kojiro."
"Sakaki Kosuke. Quasi-Professional Level. Speciality: sealing arts. Class instructor: Ishikawa Ryohei."
"Sakon Reiko. Quasi-Professional Level..."
"Futagami Mina. Quasi-Professional Level. Specialities: binding arts and Word Spirit Technique. Class instructor: Ishikawa Itai."
As registration continued, Sora discovered that the overwhelming majority of applicants were at the Quasi-Professional Level.
Professional Level Onmyoji, the talents Gin particularly hoped to recruit, remained extremely rare.
Among the first twenty or so students, almost every one had been Quasi-Professional Level.
"Hello. Here are our forms."
Sora accepted the two registration sheets and immediately brightened.
[Kurahashi Kyoko]
[Third-Rank Professional Onmyoji]
[Possesses a Guardian Shikigami]
[Specialities: astrology and shikigami]
[Class Instructor: Otomo Jin]
[Tsuchimikado Natsume]
[Fifth-Rank Professional Onmyoji]
[Possesses the shikigami Hokuto]
[Specialities: Five Elements Onmyō Arts and shikigami]
[Class Instructor: Otomo Jin]
Sora had heard of both girls.
Kurahashi Kyoko was the daughter of Onmyo Bureau Chief Kurahashi Genji.
During their visit to the Academy Head's office, Kurahashi Miyoshi had also hinted that she hoped Kyoko could join the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department.
Kyoko was not merely a beautiful girl born into a powerful family.
She had already awakened Star Reading and possessed exceptional talent in astrology.
As for Tsuchimikado Natsume, Gin had mentioned her personally.
She was the next head of the Tsuchimikado Clan, and her shikigami, Hokuto, shared a connection with Gin.
She was also someone Gin had specifically instructed Sora to watch closely.
Since it had been the Director's personal instruction, Sora would have extended an invitation even if Natsume had not registered on her own.
Furthermore, she had already reached the Fifth-Rank Professional Level.
If Sora remembered correctly, when Gin had first been recognised as a rare genius of Onmyōdō, he had possessed a similar level of strength at around the same age.
Viewed from that perspective, Tsuchimikado Natsume was unquestionably an extraordinary talent.
"Your information has been recorded. Please wait for further notification."
Natsume and Kyoko nodded before stepping aside.
Sora registered dozens more students.
Professional Level Onmyoji remained scarce, but another applicant soon appeared whose strength rivalled Natsume's.
[Sōma Takiriko]
[Fifth-Rank Professional Onmyoji]
[Possesses the shikigami Kumomaru and Yashamaru]
[Specialities: Five Elements Onmyō Arts and shikigami]
[Class Instructor...]
Sora did not recognise the name.
She simply assumed Takiriko was another genius who had remained hidden within the academy.
"Hello. This is my registration form."
A slightly familiar voice reached Sora's ears.
She looked up.
"Yuki?"
Sora froze.
"No... You aren't her."
The girl standing before her looked remarkably similar to Kuroyukihime, whom Sora had met in Kyoto.
Their faces were nearly identical.
However, this girl possessed silver-white hair, and her eyes carried a maturity and depth that clearly distinguished her from Kuroyukihime.
"I am Kuroyukihime's elder sister, Shirayukihime."
The silver-haired girl smiled playfully.
"Here is my registration form, little ghost."
"Yuki's elder sister?"
Neither Sora's cousin nor Kuroyukihime had ever mentioned such a person.
She accepted the registration form.
After a single glance, her eyes widened.
"You..."
She stared at Shirayukihime.
"Is there something wrong with my information?"
Shirayukihime's playful smile did not change.
Sora remained silent.
This was no longer a question of whether something was wrong.
It was beyond her authority to decide.
[Shirayukihime]
[Ninth-Rank Professional Onmyoji]
[Possesses shikigami]
[Specialities: Five Elements Onmyō Arts, Reverse Five Elements Onmyō Arts, and shikigami]
To have reached the Ninth-Rank Professional Level at such a young age was astonishing.
Aside from Gin and Dairenji Suzuka, she was the youngest Ninth-Rank Professional Onmyoji Sora had ever encountered.
But that was not the true reason for her shock.
The final line on the form listed the applicant's teacher.
Originally, the academy had only requested that information to make sorting candidates by class easier.
Yet beside Shirayukihime's instructor was a name that could not possibly be treated as ordinary.
[Ashiya Dōman]
Kuroyukihime's elder sister, Shirayukihime, was actually a student of Ashiya Dōman.
....
https://discord.gg/KvMN2CFsMR
[If you don't want to wait for the next update, read 50 chapters ahead on P@treon.]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03].